effect of this prayer In the first petition the Lord commandeth vs to desire the true knowledge and worship of God In the second That God woulde gouerne vs with his spirite and so continually preserue and confirme vs in this knowledge In the thirde That euery of vs by the helpe of his holy spirite and gouernment may doe and fulfill our duetie in our vocation that we may doe nothing against his will In the fourth That God would giue vs corporall blessings whereby euery of vs may doe his duetie In the fift That he would giue vs spirituall blessings in forgiuing vs our sinnes In the sixt and last That wee may bee vpholden by his grace that thereby we may bee deliuered from all euill And that so wee may bee able to hallow prayse and glorifie his name through Christ our Lord and Sauiour Before hath bene declared three parts of Religion fayth the lawe and praier nowe followeth the last part which is Sacraments Of Sacraments THe Sacraments which Mat. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16 16. Luk. 22. 19. 20. are to be vsed of vs Christians are onely those which our sauiour Christ did institute and command vs to vse Which are only twoo Baptisme and the Lords Supper which we commonly call the holy Communion These two Sacraments Baptisme and the holy Communion are holy signes ordeyned Gen. 17. 11. Rom. 4. 11. Exod. 12. 14. to be assured tokens and testimonies to me and all the faythfull of the mercie of God and forgiuenesse of sinnes for the merits death and passion of Christ Iesus my sauiour And with those holy Sacraments I receyue such grace and vertue from Christ the which my tongue cannot expresse And the holy Ghost by them doeth moue my heart to beleeue A Sacrament is a testimonie of Gods A Sacrament what it is fauour towardes vs confirmed by an outward signe Or a visible signe of inuisible grace There are three thinges in a Sacrament The first is the visible signe as in Baptisme water and in the holy Communion bread and wine The seconde is the wordes of the Lords ordinance And the third is The thing signified by them The thing signified is Christ for he is the substance of all Sacraments and they doe promise nothing without him For by Christ is the mercie of God and saluation giuen vnto vs. Our Sauiour Christ for the strengthening of our fayth hath ordeyned the preaching of the Gospell And for the further encreasing and confirming of our fayth hath instituted and left to be vsed of vs for euer so long as wee are in this world the twoo Sacraments aforesayde Baptisme and the holy Communion to be testimonies of his grace and saluation These are called the Sacraments of the newe Testament because Christ did institute them and left them to be vsed of all Christians And none other are to be vsed of vs as Sacraments but those onely The vse of our Sacraments are to be Why the Sacraments were ordeyned signes and testimonies of the eternal couenant of remission of sinnes or promise of saluation which God hath made to the faythfull in Christ And also serue to confirme our fayth for that they set before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father and leade vs vnto Christ to seeke our saluation onely in and by him And further by receyuing them wee testifie our profession before men that wee are Christians not Infidels Acts 10 47. And by them wee binde our selues to God to followe godlinesse in fayth and Rom. 6 3 4. Ephe 4 3 to 7. charitie and yeelde vnto God obedience prayse and thankes for our redemprion And in giuing vs these visible signes God testifyeth his benefites towardes vs. The Sacramentes before Christ Gen. 17 4 7 10 21. 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. testified that Christ shoulde come for without Christ none was nor neuer shall be saued And the Sacraments which Christ hath left vs testifie that Christ is Mat. 28 19 20 1 Cor. â—1 26. come and are to vs signes of the couenant of saluation as aforesaid Christ teacheth and instructeth vs with his worde then strengtheneth our fayth with sacraments and by his holy spirite he openeth our hearts to receyue the word and sacraments which otherwise would nothing moue our inwarde parts So without the worke of the holy Ghost the sacraments doe nothing at all profite vs. It is the spirite of God which is the authour of the encrease of our fayth The office of the sacraments The office of the SacrameÌ„ts is to set forth Christ vnto vs and in him the treasures of heauenly grace And to confirme our fayth in setting before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father And by the healthfull working of the holy Ghost the faythfull do receyue with the sacraments such grace and vertue from Christ our sauiour the which we are not able to expresse And so that Note most learned man master Caluin writeth in his booke of institutions If any man aske me saith M Caluin what maner of presence of Christ is in the Lords supper I wil not be ashamed to confesse that it is a higher secret then that it can be either comprehended with my wit or vttered with my wordes And to speake it more plainly I rather feele it then I can vnderstand it Therefore I do here embrace the truth of God wherein I may safely rest With the holy sacraments Christ with his spirit discendeth to the faithful that he may truely quicken their soules Gal. 2. 20. Ephe. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 13. 5. 1. Cor. 6. 15 17. 19. 12. 13. Rom 8 9. 12 5. 1. Cor. 10. 17. Ephe. 5. 30. and dwell in them and they in him and they vnited to him and made members of his bodie he being their head and also members one of another by the wonderfull working of the holy Ghost This secret vniting of Christ with the godly is by nature impossible to bee comprehended For our instruction herein beholde Note the Sùnne shining forth his beames on the earth how it is one thing in the firmament yet all the worlde and euery thing is nourished and comforted with the light and heate thereof Much more and more then may bee expressed with our tongues or coÌ„ceyued in our minds doth the extending beames of the spirite of Christ discende to the faythfull to quicken comfort and defend them with the grace vertue and power that commeth from the bodie of our sauiour Christ Iesus whereby they hate the deuill and sinne and ouercome them Albeit the faythfull receyue the benefites Iohn 3. 18. 1. Pet. 3. 21. Acts 8. 13. 18. 20. 21. Ioh. 1 33 Rom 2. 29. 1. Cor. 10. 4 5. aforesayde with the holy Sacraments yet there is no such secret power knit and fastned to the Sacraments that they may of themselues giue vs the graces of the holy ghost The Sacraments doe not profite vs vnlesse the holy ghost ioyne with them
The Principles of the true Christian religion breifelie selected out of manie good Bookes First reade and then iudge Ioh 17 2 3 3 16. The Godly ioye of a true Christian is to knowe the onely God in Christ So shall hee obtaine the eternall ioyfull life 1. Tim 4 8. Godlinesse is good vnto all thinges As a thing which hath promises in the life that is now And in the life to come 1590. ⧠To the Christian Reader EVery Christian ought to haue great care to ground him selfe in the principles of christian religion a 2. Tim 3. 16. 17. Acts 17. 11. 19. 28. Ioh 5. 39 Reue 3. 15. 16. Iam 1. 6. 7. 1. Pet 3. 15. 16. Vpon the sure rocke of the holie Scriptures that he bee not caried awaie with euery winde to a newe religion nor vnto hereticall opinions nor wauering in his faith b Mar 16. 16. Ioh 3. 18. 36. 12. 48. For except a man beleeue the Catholicke faith vndoubtedlie with an assured beleefe he cannot be saued c Act 17. 11. The consideration hereof maie stirre vppe euerie Christian to search the holie Scriptures to learne to knowe Christ and howe to attaine vnto saluation These thinges caused me to select and write this little booke for mine owne instruction Reade diligentlie this little booke â—â—d I doubte not you will acknowledge to haue receiued profite worth your paines Thus wishing the encrease of the knowledge of God to al people I commend you to his gratious protection Thine in the Lord. Swithunc Butterfeild Aprill 1590. The Principles of Christian Religion EVery Christian which desireth to attaine eternall life in heauen must knowe howe condemnation Rom 5. 18. 19. and sinne came on all men by the offence of our first father Adam from whom wee are all discended And therefore hee and his posteritie accursed And how that condemnation and curse Ioh 17. 2. 3. Rom 5. 18. 19. is put from vs and the ioyfull eternall life attained Onely by the mercye of God through faith in Iesus Christ our sauiour Mar 16. 16. Mat 16. 26. 27. Ephe 1. 4. 1. Pet 1. 15. 9. Ioh 3. 18. Therefore euerie Christian must know what hee must beleeue and howe to serue God Thereby to obtaine forgiuenes of all his sinnes in this life that hee may attaine vnto eternall life in heauen The faith in Iesus Christ which wee Ioh 17. 2. 3. Mat 22. 37. to 40. Gal 5. 14. must beleeue and the true seruing of God according to his holy will Is breifely comprised in the Creede The tenne commaundementes of almightie God the Lo 〈…〉 s prayer and the right vse of the holy Sacramentes so Religion consistes in faith and obedience The Creede teacheth what we must beleeue The tenne commaundementes sheweth vs our dutie towardes God and our dutie towardes our neighbour The Lordes prayer teacheth vs how we must praâ— and for what we must pray The holy Sacramentes are ordeined to be holy signes and assured tokens to vs of the mercy of God and forgiuenes of sinnes For the merites death and passion of Christ Iesus our sauiour These foure parts containeth faith which is the beleeuing of the Gospell The Law Praier and Sacramentes Or more shorter The Lawe and the Gospell Those articles of faith which wee must beleeue are these that followe Commonlie called the Apostles Creede The Creede I Beleeue in God the father almightye maker of heauen and earth All my hope trust and beleefe for al things I beleeue in God I shall neede either heauenly or earthly is in the same A onely very God that made the heauens and the earth B The father of our Lord Iesus Christ C and my father for Christ his sake For hee hath chosen all the faithful in Christ to bee his children And loueth them Who is so D almightie that hee made Almighty maker of heauen and earth the heauens and the earth and all thinges therein with his word And doth still so preserue rule and gouerne them that nothing happeneth in this world but by his determination will and foreknowledge It is God onely that giueth faire weather and foule weather plentye and all things else as pleaseth him There is not any thing that happeneth to me in blessings or punishments but by the appointment and foreknowledge of almightie God Whereby I knowe that the deuill is not able to doe any hurt to me vntill God suffer him for my punishment and that only so farre as he giueth the deuell leaue The wicked spirites the wicked people and the wilde beasts are the messengers of God to execute his iudgementes and punishmentes C This almighty God is so wonderfull mighty and incomprehensible that my minde nor any man whatsoeuer is not able to conceiue what hee is But Christ hath taught vs that this our good God and father is a spirite a Of God Gen 1. Ioh 1 17 3. 1 Tim 2 5. 1. Cor 8 6. Eph 4 5 6. Deu 6 4. Ier 10 10 11 1 Tim 1 17. Ier 23 24. Ioh 4 24. b The father of Christ Iesus Math 1 18 20 3 17. Luk 1 32 35. Ioh 1 14. Rom 15 6. c And my father Rom 8 15 Gen 1 27 2 7 Ioh 1 12. Gal 4 6. Eph 1 5 6. Ioh 20 17 1 Ioh 3 1. Rom 5 8. D Ephe 1. Leui 26. Psal 89. 10. 91 His almighty prouidence so that nothing happeneth but by his appointment Heb 1. 3. Math 6. 31. c. Luke 21. 15. 1. Pet 5. 18. Pro 8. 15. Esay 3. 2. 1. Cor 2. 7. Ro 9. 20. Deu 11. 14. 15. 25. 32. 39. Ma. 10. 29. 30. 31. Psal 34. 7. Math 18 10. Gen 19. 22. 2. Sam 24. 1. Kings 22. 22. Math 8. 31. Iob 1. 7. 8. 12. Psal 104. 14. Acts 17. 25. c Iob 37. 5 38. 27. Exo. 21. 13. 2. Sam 17. Gen 45. 7. 8. Exod 3. 21. 4. 23. 20. Iudg 6. 7. 1 King 17 20. 22. 2. Kings 6. 7. Psal 34. 37. 127. 1. Cro 29. 11. 12. Dan 6. 22. Act. 12 Eze 14 9 Amos 3. 6. Psal 76. 2. Esay 3. 47. 5. Zach 8. 10. Esay 44. 24. 25. 45. 6. 7. Leui 19. 31. Deut 18. 10. 11. 12. Ier. 10. 2. 23. Pro 16. Eccle 11. 4. Deut 32. 39 Pro 20. 24. Act 17. 26. 27. 28. Exod 21. 13. Deut 19. 5. Iosua 11. 20. Ionas 1. 4. 1. King 12. 15. Iud 9. 23. 24. 1. Sam. 16. 14. 1. King 22. 21. 22. 2. Kin 17 26. 24. 3 2. Cor 4. 4. 1 Sam 2. 25. 2. King 7. Ier 43 11. 2. Thes 2. 9. 10. 11. Iob 1. 10. 12. Ro. 8 27. Esay 57. 1. 54. 16. Pro. 16. 3. 7. Iere. 42. 11. 12. â— Iere 23. 24. Acts 7. 48. 50. Ioh. 4. 24. What God iâ— 2 ANd in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde And I beleeue in Iesus Christ that hee And in
it is a token of the vnion we 1. Cor. 10 17. Ephe 4 4 5 6. Rom. 12 5. haue with Christ and is the bonde of loue amongst vs Christians For we that are many are one body in Christ vnited together by the power of the holy ghost Christ being our head and we his members And also the receyuing of this holy 1. Cor. 11 26. 1 Cor. 10 17. Ephe. 4. 3 to 8. Col. 3 17. 1. Thes 5 18. Sacrament is a publike confession of our fayth and a solemne binding of our selues to leade a Christian life in fayth and charitie with continuall prayse and thankes to Christ for our redemption THe wicked do not eate the body of 1. Cor. 10 21. Iohn 15 1 to 8. Christ for Christ doth not dwell in them And in whom Christ doeth not abide without doubt is not partaker of Rom. 8 9. mat 5 23 24 Christ his bodie nor any member of him albeit he eate the sanctified breade and wine which is the signe of his bodie and blood He that eateth Christ dwelleth in Christ and Christ in him The wicked which are knowen are to Iohn 6 56. 1. Cor. 5 9 c. Mat. 18 17. 1. Cor. 10 21. bee excluded from this holy Sacrament vntill they shew their true sayth by godly repentance THerefore they which come to this 1. Cor. 11 28. 2 Cor. 13 5. holy Supper must examine proue themselues if they haue faith and repentance and doe faythfully beleeue that they are deliuered from damnation by the onely mercie of God for the merits death and passion of Christ Iesus our sauiour And must desire to profite and goe forward in godlinesse and newnesse of life And so to shewe forth the Mat. 5 23 â—4 2 Cor. 7 10. 1. Cor. 13 2 3. Gal. 5 6. death of the Lorde in fayth and repentance by their godly life being heartily sory for their sinnes and to be in charitie with all men He that sayth he beleeueth and doe â— Iohn 4 20. â— Tim. 3 5. Tit. 1 16. not shewe it in his life and doings is a lyer and by his euill doings he denieth the power of godlinesse Such persons professe they knowe God but by their euill workes they denie him and vnto euery good worke reprobate Saint Paul commandeth vs to withdraw our selues 2. Thes 3 6. 14. 1. Cor. 5. Rom. 16 17. 2. Pet. 2. 20. 21. 22. Mat. 12 45. Reue. 2. 5. and 3 16. from such and haue no company with theÌ„ that they may be ashamed That they and euery of them may remember from whence they are fallen and repent In baptisme we are receiued into the church therefore this is but once to be done in al our life The Lords supper is a confirming of our faith feding of our soules must be often done to declare the Lords death as aforesaid and is to be done not to one alone but in the assembly of the faithfull when they meetâ— 1. Cor. 10 17. and 11. 26. together He that hath true faith is fed with Christ to be saued bodie and soule vnto eternall life To whom be all prayse honour glory power and thanks for euer Amen The conclusion and summe of this Booke THose thinges which are before written Of the holyâ— Trinitie and Gods prouidence consisteth briefly in this That the Almightie God and his fulnesse which is the Almightie power that made Heauen and earth That the same God dwelleth and abydeth bodilye in Christ Iesus And that this holye Spirite the Almightie power which proceedeth from Christ defendeth and keepeth vs from the power of Sathan and preserueth all the faythfull to euerlasting life Iohn 1. Colos 1 22 c. 2 Cor. 5 18 19. Iohn 14 15 c. Ephes 2. 18. Rom. 8 9. 1. Cor. 6 19. Phil. 2 13. Acts 17 28. Psal 34. 7. â— Pet. 1 3 4 5. Also that we beleeue to bee saued onely Of fayth by the mercie of God for the merits death and passion of Christ Iesus our Sauiour And that therefore God will heare our prayers bee mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs our sinnes And after our lyues here ended at the tyme appoynted for the Resurrection Christ will raise these our vile bodyes out of the dust ioyning againe to them our soules and will then make the bodies of the faythfull lyke vnto his glorious bodie to liue in heauen with him for euer 1. Cor. 5. 18 19 21. Rom. 5 10 19. 1 Iohn 5 13. 14. 1 Cor. 15 22. Col. 1 13 14. 1 Thes 5 9 10. 1. cor 1 30. Phil. 3 20 21. 2. Thes 3 14 c. Luke 20 35 36. Iohn 11 25 26. 1 Cor. 15 33. Iohn 20 31. Further That the holy Sacraments Of Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper are holy signes ordeyned to bee assured tokens to all the faythfull of the mercie of God by Christ And that we doe receyue with them by the working of the holy Ghost such good benefites and graces from Christ Iesus the which our tongues cannot expresse Matth 28 19 20. Luke 22 19 20. 1. Cor. 10 16. 17. Iohn 6 63. Gal. 2 20. Rom. 8 9. Tit. 3 4 to 8. 2 Pet. 1 3 4 5. And also That whosoeuer hath this Of the life of a Chistian assured fayth shall be saued And that hee which hath this fayth will loue Christ his Sauiour and will haue a continuall feruent and earnest desire to keepe his commaundements And hauing sufficient to mainteyne his familie for that hee which doeth not prouide for them hath denyed the fayth and is worsse then an infidell will also to his power comfort helpe and relieue with his goodes his needie neighbours and brethren in Christ And continually striue with himselfe agaynst his wicked nature to doe vnto others as he would they should doe vnto him Iohn 17 3 and 14 15 c. 1. Iohn 3 23 24. Rom. 7 14 c. and 6 12 16 and 8 1 2. 1. Tim. 5 8 1 Iohn 4 20. 21. Iam. 2 17 26 Mat. 7. 12. So the whole life of a Christian is to beleeue and trust in Christ for saluation and all things else louing him aboue all thinges And to receyue the holy Sacraments and loue one another as Christ hath commaunded 1. Iohn 3 23 24. Gal. 5. 6. 14. Eschew euill and doe good What Christ hath commaunded that we should doe what hee hath forbidden that should we not doe The summe of the holy scriptures is the Lawe and the Gospell The Law teaching vs what we ought to doe And the Gospell sheweth vs the promises of God in Christ and teacheth vs fayth and charitie The whole duetie of man is feare Eccles 12. 13. Pro. 8 8. 13. God and keepe his commaundements The feare of the Lord is to hate euill And the dutie of a christian is to know what Christ hath taught and to doe thereafter and fulfill it to his power Loue Christ aboue all and thy neighbour as thy selfe this is the summe of christianitie The Lord for his mercie direct vs euer in his truth and that directly and only we may all seeke Gods glorie Now vnto the king euerlasting immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise bee honour 1. Tim. 1. 17. and glorie for euer and euer Amen See the principles of Religion more at large in a little booke named A godly comfort for all Christians Dayly lessons to be obserued of euery Christian 1 EVery morning and euening and at thy meales pray vnto God and giue him thankes for his benefits and be sorie for thy sinns And alwayes when thou art tempted to euill then thinke on Gods coÌ„mandement concerning that matter and the godly feare to breake that commandement will ouercome that temptation For the remembrance of God putteth away euill 2 Begin nothing before thou know how to finish the same and consider well of the ende that may come thereof Trust not to much to thine owne wit 3 Rule thy tongue that it runne not before thy wit but let thy mind rule thy tong First thinke and then speake for wordes spoken haue power ouer the speaker Affirme nothing before thou know the truth nor beleeue any thing rashly Refraine from foule language 4 If thou will correct any man doe it with gentlenesse Be gentle in thy behauiour and familier in thy communication 5 Promise with good consideration knowing first howe to performe it when thou hast promised performe it faythfully Requite benefites for it is due to render deserued thankes 6 Vse no familiaritie with any vicious person and beware of liers and flatterers 7 When thou wilt aske counsell aske it of him that gouernes himselfe honestly And make no furious man dronkard nor vicious person of thy counsell 8 Doe not that thy selfe which thou dispraysest in another 9 Eschew idlenesse and bee not ignorant in those thinges which is a shame to thee not to know Vse diligence and doe not that to morrow which thou mayest wel and lawfully doe the same day 10 It is more surer for thee to pardon then to reuenge for euery reuenge ministreth occasions of further crueltie Therefore seeke to liue in peace with all men and meddle not with those matters which perteyne not to thee Be slowe to wrath hate crueltie and in thy furie subdue thine affections Be not hastie nor wrathfull for those be the conditions of a foole Hastinesse causeth repentaunce and frowardnesse hinderance 11 Vse measure in all things for temperance calleth a man backe from all euill affections Temperate sparing is good gayning for small expences often vsed consume great substance 12 Remember what thou art and what thou shalt be and thinke nothing profitable which is not honest and godly Liue honestly hurt no man and giue to euery man his due Eschew euill and doe good and God will blesse thee Giue glorie prayse and thankes vnto Christ our Sauiour So be it Imprinted at London for Iohn Hill dwelling in Pater Noster rowe at the signe of the golden Eagle and the childe 1590.